quote:Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
I am looking at the pictures and the only difference that I see is the solid pan rails.
I have read and heard also that the bulkheads are thicker. I am sorry that the picture on the right isn't better, the oil black color on the bulk heads of the production block make it hard to see that they are scalloped, much thinner, you should be able to see on the pic on the left that those bulkheads are as thick as the bearing journals the entire length & width of the bulkhead.
One source told me that the cylinder liners are thicker as well. Wrong!
My machinest is very experienced in Cleveland blocks and is a Motorsport distributor as well.
I asked him if the NASCAR block can be bored more then the production Cleveland and he said no. listen to your machinist
He also said that it requires the same prep for racing as the production block does. listen to your machinist
I know that includes at least sleeving the lifter bores to restrict oil to the valve train. please see my essay on that subject I posted last year
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5650045562/m/5810061293/p/1
I have an Australian D2AE-CA block. When I had it bored by another machinest he wanted to charge me double. It was more difficult to boreperhaps there is truth to the assertion that Ford of Australia used a higher nickel content in their iron
and he suggested that in the future I might be happier with another machinest. he's right too, you don't need to give your business to somebody who doesn't want it
I think that there is a problem with the terminology. Maybe a big problem? People are refering to the Australian block meaning the NASCAR block. I didn't know there was a problem. what's the problem?
The Australian version of the Cleveland is a production block like the US block. The NASCAR block is not a production block, it is a race block. right! but both were cast in Australia. that's why I choose to use the term NASCAR block, but just be aware some folks do call it the "Aussie block"
The reality is that each will hold a certain amount of horsepower for a certain amount of time and then break. there's a big difference between the 2 blocks
The debate is over how much horsepower and how soon it will break. debate?
Also remember that it was the 4 bolt Boss 351 production block that was run in NHRA Pro stock by the likes of Gapp & Roush, Don Nicholson and others, 9,000rpm power shifts and all. are you sure about that, or had you just assumed that. Don't believe everything you read in magazines either. Some of those guys were running aluminum block Clevelands! they had access to all the experimental parts, all the parts you were never told about
It can't be all bad. the production block has it's limits, respect the limits and it is good!
Your friend on the DTBB, George